I have just downloaded the free VOIP cheap software. Great for landline calls, but I just can't work out how to call another VOIP cheap user, or how to find out what my VOIP 'number' would be for someone to call me. Any ideas, or am i just a bit slow....?

wrote on Aug 18^th, 2005 at 6:40pm:

I have just downloaded the free VOIP cheap software. Great for landline calls, but I just can't work out how to call another VOIP cheap user, or how to find out what my VOIP 'number' would be for someone to call me. Any ideas, or am i just a bit slow....?

You are being a bit slow I fear.

Since voipcheap and voipbuster uk landline calls are free and since everyone still has a landline there is no need for a PC to PC call facility for voipcheap and voipbuster.

If and when Ofcom allows us to have broadband in our homes whilst we no longer also have to pay BT for a PSTN phone line as well then there will be much more public interest in the computer to computer Skype type facility.

Hi Iain - When Voipbuster started, they offered PC to PC calls, this facility was withdrawn but the latest site publicity says they are planning to reinstate it.  VoipCheap (same company different name) has never offered PC to PC calls and there is no indication they will.

Best to get an FWD or a VOIPUSER or even a Sipgate number for VOIP calls if you plan to use an VOIP Router, an ATA or a Hardphone as all of these will function without having to run a PC, the alternative is to  stick to Skype or MSN Messenger for IM and PC based comms.  

Can someone please explain to us lesser mortals what this is all about  in simple lay terms. Is this Voip, whatever it is, a cheaper option than 18866 or 1899?

Well, it depends what you mean by cheaper.
Is it me, or is this getting like the Brains Trust?
Sorry, depends much upon your calling pattern. Is VoIP and any fiddling around outweighed by the very modest 2p 186 charges? (Sorry, too idle to type 18866).

VOIP = Voice Over Internet Protocol

In simple terms it means using the internet instead of the standard phone system cables for connecting the most expensive bit of the call - normally the international part.  (In fact most PSTN calls have been connected like this by the phone companies for years and we have therefore been ripped off for years as this bit should be free if you are connected to the internet)

It means a bit of fiddling about as its not perfect technology yet.  But for anyone prepared to invest a little time to understand it and make it work for them, there are some definite potential savings.

VoipCheap (www.voipcheap.com) for example gives unlimited free calls to the UK, Ireland and Netherlands and Voipbuster (www.voipbuster.com) currently offer free calls to around 20 destinations worldwide.   If you use their web application then you need to run a PC and buy a headset or USB connected phone.  There are ways of avoiding this inconvenience by they all cost more money and could outweigh your savings if you usage is small.

Its not for everyone but it is getting better known and it does present some interesting options (incoming numbers in other countries for example).  

There are some good starter resources here ...
http://www.voip-info.org/tiki-index.php

Also, it would be a good way around not having a normal telephone line, and having your VOIP geo number as your main number, and doing away with BT altogether.

I know of a few people who have broadband, but don't have a landline, and I have to call them on their mobile (which isn't too bad, as my 5 mobiles with inclusive minutes can accommodate it!!)

There is nothing stopping them therefore getting a VOIP number, and still be accessable on a geographic number.

This would therefore automatically save you £10.50 a month, which you would normally pay to BT.  The savings only come into force, depending on your phone useage pattern on VOIP.  Also as it's new technology then people will be concerned at the beginning as to whether it's as reliable as a BT line.

Once it's up and running, then more and more people will dump BT.  People have already decided that a PAYG phone, and a policy of making your friends do the calling, is cheaper than paying for a BT line.

wrote on Aug 21^st, 2005 at 8:05pm:

Also, it would be a good way around not having a normal telephone line, and having your VOIP geo number as your main number, and doing away with BT altogether.

If only what you say was true Shiggaddi.

I would love to stop paying BT an unnecessary £126 a year but on my exchange in order to have broadband I must also rent a PSTN phone service from either BT or from a phone operator that BT is selling a wholesale PSTN service to (eg Onetel).

Only people who live on unbundled exchanges can have broadband but not rent a phone line.  Or of course anyone sharing a Wifi transmitter with two or three neigbours (so perhaps one phone line and broadband service between the lot of them).  Those of us living in the countryside look as though we will be stuck with paying BT Phone line rental that we don't need for some years to come.

Only people who live on unbundled exchanges can have broadband but not rent a phone line.  Or of course anyone sharing a Wifi transmitter with two or three neigbours (so perhaps one phone line and broadband service between the lot of them).  Those of us living in the countryside look as though we will be stuck with paying BT Phone line rental that we don't need for some years to come.

Oh well, a nice thought!!

And I suppose when BT start losing more and more customers in the unbundled areas, there will be no incentive for them to unbundle any more areas.  Why would any company want to invest money into allowing it's customers to leave them

wrote on Aug 21^st, 2005 at 9:48pm:

Oh well, a nice thought!! And I suppose when BT start losing more and more customers in the unbundled areas, there will be no incentive for them to unbundle any more areas.

BT don't do the unbundling.  Their competitors do by installing their own equipment in the exchange concerned.

But it is only cost effective to unbundle in big exchanges with 20,000 customers or even more on the exchange.

So no hope of this out in the sticks.

thanks nongeographicalman, i was hoping there might be a way of talking to my daughter at the other end of the house or engaging in a conference call with other VOIP users.

Cheers

wrote on Aug 22^nd, 2005 at 5:37pm:

thanks nongeographicalman, i was hoping there might be a way of talking to my daughter at the other end of the house or engaging in a conference call with other VOIP users.

You should be able to do what you want with other Skype users.  But you can't call people who only have an old fashioned BT landline for free with Skype.

A case of horses for courses it appears.

I'm having problems with voip connecting - anyone else had this problem?  It tries to register me then gives error 14 because it can't reach the server.  

I've configured norton to allow all data from voipcheap but still no success.

Any ideas?  Or anyone willing to register me as I can log in? ;D

Thanks Gray for your clear response. Can you use the VOIP to phone from a computer to a landline phone. What about NGNs. How does it differ from MSN messenger? Do you need windows XP I only have windows 98SE and broadband basic.

By the way I have the stay logged in box ticked but for some reason have to log in after each reboot!

wrote on Aug 24^th, 2005 at 8:16pm:

Can you use the VOIP to phone from a computer to a landline phone. What about NGNs. How does it differ from MSN messenger? Do you need windows XP I only have windows 98SE and broadband basic. By the way I have the stay logged in box ticked but for some reason have to log in after each reboot!

See http://www.voipcheap.co.uk and http://www.voipbuster.co.uk

You will probably need to update to Windows XP (I would personally wait till Windows XP's replacement is launched in a few months time and buy a new computer then that has it on it) and you are also stuck with making all your calls in front of your computer unless you buy a bluetooth wifi headset (probably won't work with Windows 98 SE) or one of these expensive adapters for your current phones that cost £30 to £40 or more and have to be hooked to your computer.

So due to the above I keep using 18866 at the moment, especially as I know voipcheap and voipbuster won't let you make free calls from a computer to a uk landline forever.  Skype, who are better established, already don't let you call conventional landlines for free.